Excellent Review Mosauwer !
I have the 2016 version of  EL8 Open, they just replace my 2014 unit with a new one last year, it is much better than the previous version (mechanical parts and sound), Auzede is an excellent company, I purchased Isine 20 3 weeks ago, it sounds smaller than EL8 Open, but it sound really good too....an other excellent product from Audeze !

@eddysugi thanks man.
Yeah Audeze is a marvel. Though i didnt have the 2014 version, but i read it sounded pretty bad compared to 2016 version. Audeze changed them with care.

Nice review. It seems you really love your EL-8!
 
But, there's no wood in the EL-8's frame. And no leather too. 

How is the clarity of EL8 compared to X2s?

@Pass, there is a wood veneer accents i should say. But earpad is leather.

@Tareq Haider X2 is just only has soundstage, nothing else IMO, the clarity and body of the sound is far far better in el8.

@Mosauwer You're right for the veneer, but wrong for the leather. From Audeze's website : 
Features[...]Premium faux leather for style and durability[...][...]

B&H audio sells leather earpad for el8. I got it.

Oh great, then I'll look for that too. But it could be misleading if someone read your review (that is still nice though) and think that EL-8s come stock with leather earpads. But, you know, that's my 2 cents